Comprehensive Conservation Planning

The purpose of a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) is to specify a management direction for the refuge for the next 15 years. The goals, objectives, and strategies for improving refuge conditions—including the types of habitat we will provide, partnership opportunities and management actions needed to achieve desired conditions – are described in the CCP.

The Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex encompasses eight national wildlife refuges (NWRs): Assabet River, Great Meadows, Mashpee, Massasoit, Monomoy, Nantucket, Nomans Land, and Oxbow NWRs. Due to the size of this complex, we have divided our comprehensive conservation planning (CCP) process into several phases.

Latest News in Developing the CCP

We completed the final CCPs for Assabet River, Great Meadows, and Oxbow NWRs in January 2005. The draft CCP/EAs were released in July 2003. The final CCPs represent years of work among Federal and State agencies, local and regional officials and communities, conservation organizations, and user groups.

The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (PL 105-57) requires CCPs for each national wildlife refuge. CCPs are 15-year plans designed to provide strategic management direction that best achieves the refuge's purposes; attains the vision and goals developed for the refuge; contributes to the National Wildlife Refuge System mission; addresses key challenges, issues, and relevant mandates; and is consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife management. To learn more about CCPs and the CCP process in general, please visit the northeast planning page.

How to Access the Documents

To download the final CCP for Great Meadows, please click here (pdf - 6.04MB)

The draft CCP/EA for Great Meadows is not available electronically. If you would like a hard copy, please contact the refuge staff.

Contact Information

If you would like to request a CD-Rom or hard copy of the documents, ask questions about the CCP and planning process, or learn about how you can get involved at the refuges, please contact refuge staff at:

What We Do

Blanding's Turtle

The Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) is a medium-sized, semi-aquatic freshwater turtle that is a threatened species in Massachusetts. They require a variety of wetland habitats, make frequent seasonal overland movements, and therefore suffer mortality from direct wetland habitat loss and landscape fragmentation.